The Life of Humility: Part One

Chapter Thirty-one:

Now that we have laid the ground work for believing in Christ and growing mature in Christ (Section One), we will now begin Section Two, which will help us learn how to actually live out our Christian life as there will be many challenges and questions that we will have to face.

When you hear the word "humility" what does it bring to mind?  Do you picture someone who is lower than you in class... someone who is maybe a servant of a master... or maybe you look at being humble as being more of a doormat for others to walk upon. James 4:10 tells us to, "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."  Living a life of humility is not often discussed as many of us want to be seen as self-reliant, independent and our own person. You may have heard about the need to become humble at your church service or even read about it in the Holy Bible.  Unfortunately there is only one way  that humility becomes personal to you and that is by the power of the Holy Spirit, for it is quite easy to become prideful about the need to be humble!

I recently read that the greatest curse in our spiritual life is pride, which is the direct opposite of humility.  If we have ever had a glimpse of what we are like in the sight of God, we would never say we are worthy of salvation. We would understand that this goes without saying. But as long as we doubt if we are truly unworthy, God will continue to close us in until He gets us alone.  Wherever there is any bit of pride, we cannot be taught anything. We will be allowed to experience the disappointment we feel when our intellectual pride is wounded.  

Jesus wants to reveal the many misplaced affections or desires that we continue to cling to; however, many things are shown to us, often without effect.  It is only when God gets us alone because of them, that they then become clear. I am afraid that we would be shocked, not at the terrible sins that may lay within us, but at the awful nature of pride that is still in our hearts, pride that opposes Jesus.  Proverbs 15:33 tells us that "The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor is humility."  It also says in Proverbs 22:4 that "By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honor, and life." So it seems that humility is something that we should earnestly desire and seek after, however difficult. 

There are different forms of pride.  Some people put a lot of pride into their material belongings.  Some, into how they physically look or the job they have.  However, one of the most detrimental forms of pride is spiritual pride.  It is very deceiving and can cause you to develop a self-righteous attitude that causes you to look down on others.  Some have even fasted out of a motive of pride (Matthew 6:17-18). Pride is the opposite of humility.  It is basically selfishness at its core and "me" is the reference point, not God. It is where we put our demands and wants first and have an attitude that everything revolves around us.  

Pride is a very devious part of our personality that can lay dormant and flare up unexpectedly.  Pride is the cornerstone of the kingdom of Satan, and he uses deception and trickery to try to cause us to stumble and fall back into pride and away from living humbly.  Satan's initial downfall was due to his own prideful attitude. He was not content to be close to God and craved more.  His fall is described in Isaiah 14:13-15, " But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ “Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol, to the recesses of the pit."

However, James 4:6 reminds us "But he gives us more grace."  That is why Scripture says "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.  Overcoming pride in one's life is one of the hardest things to do, and the only way that comes about is by our being broken of our pride. Oswald Chambers said, "Brokenness is where we bring to an end our own independence and surrender our life to Him.  We must do this ourselves.  God can bring us to the point of doing it many times through our lives, but it is still up to us.  We must be the one to choose to break the hard outer core of self independence.  We must decide if we will give up and surrender all to Jesus Christ, placing no conditions on how the brokenness will come. I must be broken from my understanding of myself.  When I reach that point, immediately the reality of the supernatural identification with Christ takes place.  And the witness of the Spirit of God is unmistakable--'I have been crucified with Christ...'  The passion of Christianity comes from deliberately signing away my own rights and becoming a bondservant of Christ.  Until I do that, I will not begin to be a saint."

God allows us to see our need for brokenness in many different areas of our lives. One of the ways we can determine to what degree we are being successful at getting rid of our prideful attitude is by thinking through this list and asking yourself "Where am I in this area? Is this an area God has already worked on, is working on or still needs to be work on?":

·     Do you lack the desire to quickly say "I'm sorry"?  Proverbs 28:13 says, " Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy."

·     Are you open to hearing others tell you your faults? Proverbs 27:5 reminds us, " An open rebuke is better than hidden love!"

·     Do you lack the desire to walk in God's ways?  Psalms 32: 8, 9 teaches us, " I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you...".

 

·     Do you try to vindicate yourself, make yourself look good?  Can you laugh at yourself or do you try to justify yourself?  

·     Do you have a negative reaction if you have been used by God without recognition? Isaiah  42:8 clearly shows who is to get the credit, " I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols."

·     Do you rejoice in the power of God using others and not you?  We see an example of this in Acts 5:14-16 says, "Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.  As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed."  Then, In verses 17 and 18 it shows how the Pharisees did not like this at all and we read, "Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy."

·     Do you have a problem with what you say?  Psalm 141 :3 tells us that we need to watch our words, " Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips."

·     Do you allow others to see the "real" you, with no masks, no pretending you are somebody else? 

·     Do you lack the joy of the Lord? Nehemiah 8:10 tells us that brokenness proceeds joy.

·     Are you loyal to those God has currently put in authority over you?  Remember, you will never be a better leader than you are a follower.

·     Do you insist on things going the way you want?  Romans 12:10 challenges us to ^"Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves."

·     Do you isolate or withdraw rather than face your problems?  

·     Are you committed to God and His reputation?  

·     Do you lack confidence in being able to approach God?  Psalm 50:15 reminds us that we can go to God in our day of trouble, "...and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”

·     Do you require things of others that you do not require of yourself?  

·     Do you demand that you receive equality and rights?  God does not deal with us equally.  He deals fairly and justly.

·     How do you respond when someone else gets blessed, especially if you have been waiting for something yourself?

     Allow God to show you those areas that He desires to work on in your life.  Part Two of this teaching will continue next week.